Egg separator



D. FRIEBERG 2,632,490 EGG SEPARATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 24, 1953 Filed Sept. 12, 1951 March 24, 1953 D. FRIEBERG EGG sEPARAToR Filed Sept. 12, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorney D. FRIEBERG EGG SEPARATOR March 24, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet .'5

Filed Sept. l2, 1951 i v 9 ig 2A w fle/ferri Allorlley Patented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES GFFICE EGG SEPARATOR Davis Freberg, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 12, 1951, Serial No. 246,213

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a novel apparatus by means of which egg yolks and egg whites are separated and conveyed to separate storage containers and wherein the separating operation is accomplished automatically after manual breaking of the eggs.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus including a driven `endless conveyor supporting a plurality of multiple receptacles into which the eggs are deposited and automatically separated and from which the separated egg yolks and egg whites Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus including a separate driven endless conveyor the movements of which synchronize to the movement of the multiple receptacle supporting endless conveyor and on which is supported a plurality of funnel members each of which travels a distance in a position above one of the multiple receptacles whereby the broken eggs may be dropped into the funnel and directed thereby into the multiple receptacles for separation therein to eliminate any risk of spilling the egg whites and egg yolks and to insure a correct separation thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is to -provide a novel suction means including revolving intake nozzles the movements of which are synchronized to the movement of the multiple receptacles and which nozzles are displaceable downwardly into the multiple receptacles for extracting separately the egg yolks and egg whites therefrom during a portion of the travel of each revolution of the nozzles.

' Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from` the following description of the drawings,` illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View of the egg separating apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section thereof;

l Fig-ure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View, partly in top plan, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 2 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view vtaken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 2, and

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line l--l of Figure 4.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the novel egg separating apparatus in its entirety is designated generally lll and includes an elongated supporting table Il having an elongated table top l2 and a plurality of supporting legs I3 which depend .therefrom near the ends of the table top l2. The table H also includes a sub-platform l2 which is located below the table top l2 and near one end of the table l I and which is supported at one end by the legs I3, which are disposed at one end of the table Il, and at its opposite end by a hanger |'5 which is secured to and depends from the table top l2.

A shaft i6 has a lower end which is journalled in a thrust bearing ll which is mounted on the platform M. The shaft lli extends upwardly through and is journalled in a portion of the table top l2 near one end thereof. A large sprocket wheel I8 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft I6 and disposed above the table top I2. A stationary shaft E9 extends upwardly through the table top l2 near its opposite end and has its lower end rigidly secured to the table top by a setscrew and collar fastening means 2B, as illustrated in Figure 3. A vlarge sprocket wheel 2i is journalled on the shaft is and is supported by an antifriction bearing 22 for freerotation above the table top i2, said bearing 22 resting on the f table top and being disposed around the shaft i9. A disk or block 23 is disposed centrally on and secured to the sprocket wheel 2l for rotation therewith around the shaft is and has an annular upstanding iiange 24 xed thereto and which is disposed concentrically around the shaft I9. A disk 25 is disposed on the upper end of the flange 2li and has a centrally disposed boss 26 receiving the .upper restricted end 2i of the shaft I9 and which is secured thereto by a pin 28 so that the disk 25 is held stationary with the shaft i3. The disk 25 has a depending annular flange 29 which ts relatively snug within the flange 24. It will be readily apparent that the flange 24 and disk 23 turn with the sprocket wheel 2l relatively to the disk 25 and flange 29 which are held stationary with the shaft IS.

An endless sprocket chain 32 is trained around the sprocket wheels l2 and 2l. A plurality of rods 3| forming standards are secured to spaced links ofthe chain 311 and project upwardly therefrom and are spaced equal distances apart throughout the circumference of the chain. Each of the upright rods or standards 3l supports a multiple egg separating receptacle, designated generally 32, including an upper yoll: receiving cup 33 and a lower, larger egg white receiving saucer 3d which is disposed beneath the cup 33 and in the upper portion of which the lower part of the cup is disposed.

A shaft 35 extends upwardly through the table top l2 between the sprockets i8 and 2l and adjacent the sprocket i8 and is journalled and supported at its lower end by a thrust bearing 3B. The thrust bearing 3S is mounted on a support 3l which is suitably supported above the platform lli and beenath the table top i21 A sprocket wheel 35i is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 35. A shaft 35 extends upwardly through the table top l2 between the sprocket wheels L8 and 2l and nearer the sprocket wheel 2l and is journalled and supported relatively to said table top -by antifriction bearing means a9 which directly support a sprocket wheel il secured `to the upper end ci" the shaft .39 and which thrust bearing means is supported by the table top l2. The sprocket wheels '3d and il are substantially smaller than the sprocket wheels i8 and 'i and are located above the level of said last mentioned sprocket wheels between the nights of the chain 3d and nearer one flight thereof than the other flight, as best illustrated in Figure l. An endless .sprocket chain .d2 is trained around the sprocket wheels 3S and A plurality of tunnels 53 are secured to spaced links of the chain l2 and ,ex- -tencl outwardly therefrom. The funnels 33 are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing .of the multiple receptacles s2. Each of the funnels '33 is generally of rectangular shape and is elongated in a -direction longitudinally of -thechain #la Asbest seen in YFigure l, the table Vtop .I 2 is provided with an elongated llange opening d constituting -a disposal opening the upn standing surrounding elongated ilange .t of

which is disposed between the iiightsof the chain 132 and between the sprocket wheels 38 and 4l A box-like frame rif-3 is fixed to Vand rises from the .table top i2 and is disposed around the funnels Alt. The open top of the frame es may be lclosed .by a removable cover ill, a portion of which is shown in Figure 6' when the apparatus .lll is Vnot in use. The end walls is of the frame 46 are provided with aligned openings through which one flight of the endless conveyor E@ extends together with the multiple receptacles supported Vthereby and which night is movable Athrough `the frame Lid :and beneath the funnels .-43 carried by the adjacent flight ci the chain t2. A pair ci guide channels "it are supported on and extend longitudinally of the table lf2 for supporting and guiding the nights of the Vchain Si) between the sprocket wheels lil and 2|, one of said channels extending longitudinally #through the frame t5 and through its openings 49.

A power source such as a small electric mo- -tor `5l is secured on the platform lll for driving the shaft l. The shaft it is driven at a reduced speed by means of a speed reducing unit 52 'which is driven through a belt and pulley drive 5S by .the motor 5l and which is connected to the shaft it by a gearing Likewise, vthe shaft lli is connected to the shaft 3'5-by a sprocket `wheel and chain drive 55, the sprocket wheels of which are of proper relative size to drive the smaller sprocket vwheel -38 faster than the sprocket wheel la so that the chain t2 will travel at the same speed as the chain 3D in order that one funnel :i3 will be disposed over each multiple receptacle 32 as it travels through the housing lll and while the funnels are traveling in a straight line above the receptacles 32.

A plurality of pairs of suction tubes are sup ported by and project radially from the flange 24, each of which pairs includes an upper tube 5t vand a lower tube 5l. The tubes 55 and 5l are provided at their outer ends with downturned intake nozzles 5B and 5S, respectively. As best seen in Figure 5, the sprocket wheel 2l is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced internally threaded bosses 59 in each of which is mounted a guide sleeve 6l which extends upwardly therefrom. A supporting rod 62 extends slidably through each guide sleeve 6| and downwardly `through the sprocket wheel 2l and is provided at its lover end with a roller 53 jour- A pair of vertically spaced Acollars 5 `engage the tubes 56 and 5l of each .pair of tubes and are supported by links s6 `which are connected thereto and which are supported Aby and extend upwardly from the upper end of the rod 52 for supporting the outer end portions of the suction conduits 53 and 51, the inner ends of which are'sup-ported by the flange 2 4. Each 'of the conduits 56 and 5'! is provided .with a flexible portion 6'! between its collar v55 and the iiange Zit. A pull spring 68, which is connected to the upper end -of each rod 62 and anchored to the sprocket wheel 2| urges the rods 52 downwardly to normally maintain the rollers t3 thereof in contact with the upper surface of the table top l2.`

A pair of suction conduits Sil and lil lhave complementary ends extending downwardly through the disk 25 and which have outturned terminals ll and l2, respectively, which are anchored in vertically spaced openings "I3 of the flange 29 and which lterminate flush with the outer sur- Vface thereof so that during each revolution of lthe flange Eil around the flange 29 the end of Aeach suction tube 'alli which is secured in the flange V2li moves into 'full registration with the conduit terminal l! and the complementary end of each suction 5'! moves into registration with the conduit terminal l2. The opposite end of the conduit E9 extends downwardly into a container 'lll and the opposite end of the conduit lll extends downwardly into a container i5. A pipe 'lhasdownturned ends one AVof which opens -i-nto the container le; and the other of which opens into the container "l, said conduits 63 and 1Q and pipe 1G terminating adjacent the tops of the containers lil and l5. The containers 14 and i5 are sealed `exceptfor their connections with `the conduits and pipe. A suitable vacuum unit il is supported Vas by means of certain of the legs i3 beneath lthe containers lil and l5 and is connected bya conduit I8 to the intermediate portion of the pipe l for creating a suction in said pipe and accordingly in the containers 7G and 1'5, the conduits 69 and l@ and the suction tubes 56 and 5cl, when the latter are in registration or communication with the conduit termi- :nals 'El Yand l2, respectively. The suction unit "lllmaylikewise be provided with a gauge le dispcsedfabove the table top l2 :for indicating the vacuum or suction in the conduit T8 and so that by suitable vregulating means, not shown, a `proper or desired vacuum may be maintained at all times in the suction conduits 59 and '52.

A portion of the table top l2 disposed beneath a part of the sprocket wheel 2i and adjacent the containers i4 and 15 is provided with an elongated arcuate opening 83. An elongated arcuate plate 8l has one end portion 32 closing the bottom of one end of the opening 83 and which is secured by-iastenings B3 to the underside of 'the table top iii; The opposite end of the plate Bi is reduced in width as seen at 84 and hasits terminal restingy upon the upper surface of the table top I2 beyond the opposite end of the opening 80 and is inclined upwardlywithrespect to the plate portion 82, as best seen in Figure to form a ramp surface 84.

Assuming that the motor 5l is operating to drive the shafts I5 'and 35 for Adriving the sprocket wheels I8 and 38, respectively, which in turn l"drive the sprocket wheels 2i and 4I, respectively,

' contents 'of the shell into the funnel 43. The

contents of the egg, comprising the egg yolk and egg white, will il-owthrough the opening 85 in l `the bottom of the funnel 43 into the cup133 which is disposed directly therebeneath. The egg yolk, not shown,` will llgthe cup 43 and the egg white will flow Aover the rimof the cup and down into the saucer'l 34 disposed therebeneath to thus 'automatically separate the egg yolk and egg white. YWhile this is occurring,` the operator ydrops the yempty shell into the surrounding flan-ge v45 by which it is ydirected through the opening 44 into any suitable receptacle, not shown,l which is disposed thereben-eath. The operator repeats this o-peration with respect to each funnel 43 'and multiple receptacle 32 passing from left to right in 'front of him, lasseen in Figure` 1. After the multiple receptacles have thu-s lbeen filled with the separated egg yolks and -egg whites they pass 'out frombeneath the funnelmernbers 43 beneath which they were travelling andvcontinue counterclockwise Iaround the sprocket wheel I3 and fromright to left as seen in Figure 1 toward the sprocket wheel 2|. The funnel members 43 travel inthe same 'direction 'around the sprocket wheel 38 and then around the sprocket wheel 4l each backinto position over another multiple receptacle 32, so that each funnel member 43 travels aplurality of times Iover a multiple receptacle 32 yduring each complete circuit of travel of the multiple receptacles 32`and chain 3'0. The nozzles 58 and 530i each pair of Atubes 56 and 5l are spaced a distancefrom adjacent nozzles 5B andV 53 corresponding to the spaces between the multiple receptacles 32 and said nozzles move in unison Vwith thefspro-oketiwheel 2i, it will be obvious that the nozzles travel at the same speed as the multiple receptacles and are positioned so that as the chain portion carrying each multiple receptacle 32 moves into engagement with the teeth of th-e sprocket wheel 2| a pair of the nozzles 58 and 53 will assume positions over said multiple receptacle, as clearly illustrated in Figures l, 3, 4 and 5. Th-e intake tubes 53 and 51 will then travel in a circular path in unison with the multiple receptacle 32 over which. they are disposed and the nozzles 58 and 59 will ibe supported in elevated positions `above the level of the multiple receptacle by the roller 63 engaging on the upper surface of the table top l2. However, as the roller moves into engagement with the opening 80 it will drop suddenly downwardly onto the plate portion 82 'allowing the rod supporting the tubes 56 and 5l to move downwardly and so that said tubes will likewise swing downwardly on their flexible portions 61 to cause the nozzle 5S to assume a position in the cup 33 and the nozzle 58 to be positioned in the saucer 34, as illustrated in Figure 3. While lthus disposed, the suction tubes 56 and 57 will move into registration with the conduit terminals 'H `and 12, respectively, yand immediately upon establishment of this communication a suction will be produced in the nozzles 58 and 53 for extracting the egg white from the saucer 34 4and the yolk from the cup 33 through the nozzles 53 and 59 and conduits 56 and 51. Communication will be maintained for a ysufficient time to permit the egg white and yolk to be drawn at least into the conduits 69 and 'l0 before communi-cation Vis broken off by movement lof the tubes 55 `and 5? out of registration withthe terminals H and 12. Thereafter, the roller will engage the ramp surface 84 and travel upwardly thereon back onto the upper surface of the table top l2 yand in so moving will displace the rod which it supports upwardly to elevate the nozzles 58 and 59 above the multiple receptacle 32 so that said receptacle can move away from said nozzles as the portion of the chain 30 by which it is supported moves out of engagement with the teeth of the sprocket wheel 2i 'and carries the multiple receptacle into Ia position again beneath a funnel 43 to be re- 'lled, 'as previously described. It will be readily apparent that this operati-on is repeated in conneotion with veach of the multiple receptacles 3'2 during each movement of the chain 30 through a complete circuit. v l

Various mo'dications Iand changes are con'- templated, and may obviously beA resorted to, without departing 'from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. An egg separating apparatus'compr'ising -a Idriven endless conveyor, a plurality of. multiple receptacles connected to said endless conveyor and supported thereab'ove in equally spaced yrelationship to v:one :an-other each including a 'small upper receptacle Aadapted to be lledwith an egg yolk anda larger lower receptacle adapted to receve the egg White overflowing the rim 0.5 `the smaller receptacle disposed thereabovaa plurality of pairs of suction tubes, rotary supporting vmeans lor the `suction tubes connected to and driven .by the endless conveyor whereby the tubes travel at a speed corresponding to the'speed of movement of the multi-ple receptacles and syn- 'chronized therewith so that` a pair of the tubes will travel in unison with each multiple receptacle during a part of its travel in a complete circuit of movement on th-e endless conveyor,

' said suction tubes having downturned nozzles dispos-ed Ione above each of the two receptacles of the multiple receptacle, ya cam track and roller means for each pair of suction tubes for supporting the nozzles thereof above the multiple receptacle during a part `of the travel of said tubes with the multiple receptacle and within the receptacles during another part of the travel of the tubes 'and multiple receptacle, and stationary suction conduits having intake -ends disposed whereby said suction tubes move into registra- 7 tion-therewith vwhile the nozzles are disposed in .said kreceptacles for extracting the egg Iyolk and ogg White from the receptacles bysuction through the tubes into said conduits while the tubes 'and conduits are in registration..

2. An egg separating apparatus as in claim 1, and separate receptacles into which said conduits discharge the separated egg yolks and egg Whites.

3. An egg separating apparatus as in claim 1, and a second driven endless conveyor travelling at thesame speed as said rst mentioned conveyor, aplurality of funnels secured to and pro-- jecting outwardly from said second endless conveyor spaced from one another a distance corresponding to the spacing between said multiple receptacles, each of said multiple receptacles travelling beneath one of the tunnels during a part of Veach circuit of its travel whereby the contents of an egg deposited into said funnel will be discharged therefrom into the smaller upper re ceptacle disposed therebeneath to effect separation of the egg yolk and egg white by the egg white overilowingthe rim of the upperreceptacle ,and spilling therefrom into the larger Ylovver ,re-

ceptacle disposed therebeneath.

4. An egg separating apparatus as in ,claim 3, `and ,a guide channel in which said first mentioned endless conveyor is supported and guided Vduring ,the travel of the multiple receptacle .beneath thefunnel.

.5., `An eggseparating apparatus as in claiin 3, each of said endless conveyors including a sprocket chain, a pair of sprocket wheels over which each of the sprocket chains is trained, one ,of the ,sprocket wheels of each sprocket chain constituting .a driven sprocket, the sprocket Awheels of the second conveyor being smaller than .the sprocket wheels of the iirst mentioned conveyor and disposed therebetween, and means for drivingr the drive sprockets of the two conveyors including synchronizing means for driving the endless vchains in unison.

6. An egg separating apparatus comprising a driven endless conveyor, a plurality of multiple receptacles connected to and supported by the endless conveyor in equally spaced relationship to :one another and each including an upper egg yolk receiving receptaclefadapted to be filled with an egg yolk `and a, lower egg white receiving re- .ceptacle disposed beneath and around the egg yolk receiving-receptacle and adapted to contain an egg White Yspilling over the rim of the egg yolk receiving receptacle, a pair of storage containers for receiving the separated egg ,yolks and egg Whites, means for creating a suction in said conftainers, a pair of ysuction conduits'having discharge ends one discharging into each of said containers, said conduits having opposite stationary inlet ends, a plurality of pairs of suction 'tubes each including a downwardly opening intake nozzle, means supporting said suction tubes and driven by said endless conveyor whereby each pair of suction tubes will travel in unison with one of the multiple receptacles during a portion of each circuit of its travel, said suction tubes having outlet ends supported by the tube supporting means for movement in registry with the inlet ends of said suction conduits during a portion of the travel of the suction tubes in unison with one of the multiple receptacles, cam and roller means for supporting the suction tube nozzles of each pair of suction tubes with the inlet ends of said nozzles disposed one within each of the receptacles while the suction tubes are in registration with the suction conduits and for supporting the nozzles labove said receptacles while the tubes and conduits are not in registration.

7. An apparatus as in 'cla-im 6, said multiple receptacles being supported by the endless conveyor lfor movement in a horizontal plane.

8. An egg separating apparatus as in claim 6, a second driven endless conveyor, a plurality -of tunnels secured to and carried by said second endless conveyor travelling at the same speed as said multiple receptacles, each of said multiple receptacles during a portion of its circuit of movement travelling beneath one of the funnels whereby the contents of an egg deposited therein will be directed by the funnel into the upper egg yolk receiving receptacle.

9. An egg separating apparatus comprising a driven endless conveyor, a yplurality of vmultiple receptacles supported by s aidendless conveyor in spacedrelationship to Vone another each including an upper egg yolk receiving cup and a lower larger `egg white vreceiving saucer disposed beneath and Harmind the cup and adapted to be nlle'd with .the egg White spillingover the rim of the cup when lled Dylan egg yolk, and suction extracting .means .for separately `extracting the contents of the cup and saucer of each `multiple receptacle during a portion of its travel in each circuit o f its movement including a pair of suction nozzles movable in unison with each multiple receptacle during a portion of -its travel and 4a .camsurface and roller for supporting said nozzles one within the cup and the .other within the saucer during a part of the .travel of the nozzles in unison Lwith the multiple receptacle andabove andout o fengagernent with the cup land saucer during theremainderof the travel of the nozzles in unison with .the multiple receptacle.

i DAVIS ERIEBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following `references are .of .record in the le .of .this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number VName iDate 1,507,221 Weiss Sept. 2, 1924 1,747,432 Eskholme Feb. 18, 1930 1,795,118 Hall Mar. 3, 1931 2,090,963 Reese Aug. 24, 1937 

